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Cats/new kitten in home

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Expert: - 10/14/2008


Question

Banzai was very much i
This is quite complex, but I try and keep it short. We had two kittens, brothers, and when they were a year and a half old, one of them got killed in the road. We're not sure in how far his brother is aware of what has happened to his brother. They were very close. However, the now diceases cat was always at home, and the other cat 'Jenghis' has always been more of an outdoor cat, coming home for evening grooming and occasional 'binge feeds' before going back out. A month after loosing one of our babies, we got in a new kitten (very soon) and he was very playful, bites and scratches  A LOT, the other two were never like that. Whenever Jenghis comes in now, he gets attacked by Banzai (new kitten, now castrated and 6 months old), bitten. Banzai basically hangs off his throat. Jenghis hates it. He eats, binges, shakes the cat off and runs back out. We barely see him now, he comes in every day just to eat but then we have no idea where he is. He'd like to be in more now that the weather turns, what shall we do? We thought that Banzai would let him be more now that he's castrated, but it hasn't changed anything. He gets terribly jealous when we give Jenghis attention. I think that's it, but if you have more questions please don't hesitate to ask. Many thanks, Claudia

Answer
Claudia,

I have a few questions to ask prior to determining the best way to deal with this situation. I suspect that the following questions will allow me to get a clearer picture of what exactly is happening and hopefully I will be able to offer some practical suggestions that might help keep things on friendlier terms between the two cats.


- How did you introduce the new kitten into the household?

- Is Jenghis neutered as well?

- How old was Banzai when you brought him home?

- Does Banzai play roughly in terms of scratching or biting people?

- Have you tried to modify Banzai's behavior?

- If so what have you done to try and get Banzai to behave a bit more politely?

- Was Jenghi the more dominant cat in the household hierarchy when his brother was alive?

- What kind of attention do you pay to Banzai and Jenghi? Do you approach both cats the same way?

- What types of discipline do you use when one of the cats has broken a household rule?

- Does Banzai become aggressive or protective of his food when he is eating?

- Can you describe the events leading up to a typical attack on Jenghi by Banzai?

- Does either cat use urine or feces to mark their territory outside of or in the house?

- What is Banzai's typical response to Jenghi? Does he always respond by pouncing on him and biting or scratching?

- Have you provided a safe place for Jenghi to go when he comes into the house where Banzai can't attack him? A cat door that opens with a magnetic key attached to Jenghi's collar is a good way to do that as Banzai won't be able to follow.

- How is food served to the cats in your home - do you have one feeding station or more than one?

- How many litter boxes do you have inside?

- Does Banzai go outdoors?

Ali

Expertise

I am the proud guardian of 5 mixed breed cats ranging from 12 weeks to 13 years old and one purebred ragdoll. I have 20+ years experience working with mixed breed cats from a variety of different situations. I have fostered cats/kittens with special needs/behavioral issues. I have rescued/rehabilitated/re-homed a variety of stray/abused cats. I can offer advice on managing feral cat colonies, rehabilitating strays and finding them forever homes. I can help you to determine whether a cat is stray or feral, there IS a significant difference. Improperly introducing a new cat/kitten can result in aggression between newly introduced cats because cats are territorial by nature and they don't like sudden changes in their environment. To learn more about a peaceful way to introduce a new cat into a home with other cats please check out my previous answers on this subject. Proper nutrition for cats can be confusing, I recommend checking out catinfo.org which was created by a veterinarian (Dr. Lisa Pierson) who takes a common sense approach to explaining feline nutrition. Cat behavior and instincts are different from those of humans, I can help you understand your cat's needs so that you can meet them adequately and have a balanced, psychologically and physically sound kitty. Cats vary in personality, energy level and intelligence, different approaches may be required to achieve results in terms of training and interaction with your feline companion. An intelligent, high energy cat must be kept busy or they will make their own fun. I am NOT a licensed veterinarian and I can't offer medical advice. If your cat is ill/injured my advice is always the same: get prompt medical treatment provided by a veterinarian. If finances are an issue I will try to find resources in your area that can help with medical costs or make other choices to ensure the welfare of your cat.

Experience

I have fostered feral and stray cats, rehabilitated and homed cats that many people recommended euthanasia for. I am willing to make an effort to do the research and ask questions because I care enough to find solutions to behavioral problems rather than giving up. I have an interest in the use of alternative therapies to help provide the best possible care for all cats and I can say in all honesty that I've seen some incredible things happen for some incredible cats and their human caregivers when the right alternative therapeutic modality is used by a qualified veterinarian with expertise and experience in the field.

Education/Credentials
I've earned my diploma as a veterinary assistant with honors.

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